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everything that had once been wood was now either tile or plastic。 There was a TV in the room's tokonoma instead of a vase with a fresh flower。 One paid for it by feeding coins into a slot to view half…hour intervals。 The walls were papered green instead of being hand…painted； and the hallways to the toilets were lined with vending machines dispensing everything from hot sake to iced cappuccino。 It was not a restful place and had none of the rustic charm that made traditional ryokan desirable places to stay。
This supremely practical side of modern…day Japan was often tough to take。 There seemed no connection at all with the culture that turned the manufacture of even everyday items such as bs and hairpins into high art； until one understood that Japan was a country of facades。 Like lacquered walls； paper screens； translucent noren； which hung in open doorways； there was in all things Japanese the impression that something else lay just beneath the gauzy layer one had e through； if one sensed the truth was beyond the next layer； it was an illusion； and the cultural imperative to project secrets inward had acplished its purpose。
According to Zao's information； Niigata lived at the bottom of a deep valley that lay between two Yoshino hills。 They ate a quick meal； then left the ryokan； walking up the main street of the village； ascending toward the main Shugendo shrine where； it was said； dwelled the remains of the rebel emperor Go…Daigo； who in the fourteenth century set up a southern imperial court here。
The road forked at the foot of the steps to the shrine； and they took the right…hand route that led down an increasingly narrow street； past isolated stores and residential houses until it petered out at the edge of a flight of steeply winding steps overarched by a procession of vermilion torii gates。
They had been driving almost all day； and they were tired。 It was nearing evening； and the twilight turned the heavy mist to jewel tones。 As they descended； the light became aqueous and a chill emanated from the forest floor； seeping through the lichen； moss； and ferns。 Tachi shivered； pulling his coat closer around him as they descended the seemingly endless stone stairway。
〃This place gives me the creeps；〃 he said。
They paused； hearing an eerie sound echoing through the woods that now rose far above their heads。 It came again before the echoes of the previous sound had died away。
Tachi looked around。 〃What is that？〃
〃The priests are calling the evening service by blowing through giant conch shells；〃 Nicholas said。 〃They've done it this way for centuries。〃
They continued down through the dense wood； acpanied by the otherworldly sounds echoing through the trees like the cries of Yoshino's awakened kami。 Ahead； they could see that the stairway made a forty…five…degree turn to the right。 In a niche just before the corner they came upon an enormous sword； its massive butt set into moss…covered stone。 Metal flames struck off the edge of the blade； serving as poignant reminder that Yoshino was filled with the kami of long…dead heroes such as Minamoto no Yoshitsune。 It was here that Yoshitsune hallowed his sword in a Shinto ceremony of fire purification。
For Nicholas； Yoshino was forever infused with the special melancholy conjured by the doomed romance between this thirteenth…century hero and his favorite mistress； the dancer Shizuka； widely renowned as the most beautiful woman of her time。 It was to Yoshino that the couple fled after an aborted attempt on Yoshitsune's life by his enemies。 Shizuka was almost magical in her dancer's abilities。 She was supposedly able to end droughts with rainstorms and bring grown men to tears with her ethereal dances。 And it was here that the legendary lovers were parted by fate； where Shizuka was betrayed and captured by Yoshitsune's enemies。
In his mind； this twilit winter's afternoon； Shizuka and Koei were inextricably entwined； and the deeper he descended into the Shinto valley； the more his personal memories were caught up in the tendrils of history that endured here； overing the advent of plastic geta and television tokonoma。
As they advanced down the last flight of stairs； they glimpsed the shrine。 It was set beside a swiftly flowing stream that cut obliquely through the floor of the valley。 Its peaked crimson roofs and massive polished cedar columns rose up through the trees； seeming a natural part of the terrain。
They passed over a small wooden bridge beneath which the stream rocketed over a bed of stones worn smooth by the water's passage。 Beside the bridge was a thick column perhaps three feet high on which stood a bronze figure of a curled snake…dragon。 This was Noten O…kami； a manifestation of Zao Gongen； the avatar of Yoshino。
〃Tell me a bit about Seiko；〃 Nicholas said as they crossed the bridge。
Tachi； looking at the image of the coiled Noten O…kami； said； 〃I think that would be most dangerous for our friendship； given that the two of you are sleeping together。〃 He turned to Nicholas； his lips curled in the ghost of a smile。 〃Weren't we taught in Tau…tau that three is the number of conflict？〃
〃She says you're not like other oyabun。〃
Tachi raised his eyebrows。 〃Well； perhaps that is so。 I am tanjian； and that alone sets me apart； doesn't it。〃 Beyond the other side of the bridge； stands of tall； ancient cryptomeria marched along the floor of the valley； then upward along the far slopes。 〃But you don't really mean to ask me about Seiko。 I sense that you already know more about her than you'd like to。〃
Nicholas stopped。 〃What does that mean？〃
〃Knowing Seiko is bad enough； but caring about her is the same as getting caught in quicksand。 She is a woman who has no sense of herself at all。 She is； quite literally； what men have convinced her she is。 If she seems strong now； it is because men have taught her to be so … I among them； I'm afraid。 Inside； however； she has lost contact with who she is。 To be brutally honest； it is likely she was never in touch with it at all。〃
〃And that makes her dangerous？〃
〃Oh； yes。 A person who has no self…worth lacks the ability to put value on human life … any life。 Seiko is likely to do the expedient thing； listen to the last pelling male voice she hears。 Most people can be persuaded by money； sex； ideology； or the promise of power； but not Seiko。 She's motivated by whim； a capricious breath of air； and this makes her wholly unpredictable。〃
〃Let's be clear about this；〃 Nicholas said； wondering if Tachi knew the story of her brother's terrible death。 〃Are you saying that she is incapable of love or of experiencing any human emotion？〃
〃No。 What I am saying is that her definition of love or of any other human emotion is unlikely to be close to yours or mine。 And； in a very real sense； this is the more difficult and perilous possibility； because she can easily municate what appears to be the real thing。 It will e as quite a shock； I can tell you； when you realize it isn't anything like what you thought。〃
To their left the priests； their conch shells beneath their arms； were congregating for the evening service。 Nicholas and Tachi moved off； down a hump and between two of the shrine buildings toward